Domestic appliance

ABSTRACT

A household appliance includes a receiving region, a door attached to the receiving region, and a control and display facility provided on the door and configured to display items of information which vary depending on an opening angle of the door.

The present invention relates to a household appliance, in particular a household dishwasher.

A dishwasher comprises a dishwasher cavity to which a door is attached in a pivotable manner. A control and display facility may be provided on the door, with the aid of which the dishwasher can be controlled and with the aid of which items of information can be displayed, such as a remaining time in a washing program. When the door is opened, an angle with which a user can inspect the control and display facility changes.

Against this background an object of the present invention consists in providing an improved household appliance.

Accordingly a household appliance is proposed, in particular a household dishwasher with a receiving region, a door attached to the receiving region and a control and display facility provided on the door, wherein items of information displayed by the control and display facility vary depending on an opening angle of the door.

Because the items of information displayed vary depending on the opening angle of the door, it is possible to ensure that the items of information can be viewed equally well at all times by a user regardless of the opening angle.

The household appliance is preferably a household dishwasher. However, the household appliance may also be a household oven, a household washing machine, a household dryer, a household refrigerator, a household freezer or the like. The receiving region is preferably a dishwasher cavity of the household appliance. The receiving region is preferably cuboid in shape and comprises a base, a ceiling arranged opposite the base, two side walls arranged opposite one another, and a rear wall arranged opposite the closed door. A loading opening of the receiving region can be closed or opened with the aid of the door. In the present context, the door being “attached” to the receiving region is to be understood in particular to mean that the door is pivotably connected to the receiving region, for example with the aid of hinges.

The opening angle is defined in particular as an angle between the door and a flange of the receiving region that encloses the loading opening of the receiving region. The control and display facility is preferably mounted on, at or in the door. The control and display facility is preferably connected to the door in a fixed manner. The household appliance can be controlled with the aid of the control and display facility, for example such that a washing program can be selected with the aid of the control and display facility. Furthermore, the control and display facility is suitable for displaying items of information to be output by the household appliance.

In the present context, “items of information” may be understood to mean for example pictograms or symbols displayed by the control and display facility. However, in the present context, “items of information” may also be understood to mean control surfaces that can be operated by a user, for example to start or stop the household appliance or to select a program, in particular a washing program. The control and display facility may comprise for example a display, a touchscreen, light-emitting diodes or the like. In the present context, the “varying” of the items of information displayed depending on the opening angle of the door means that different items of information are displayed depending on the opening angle of the door and/or that the items of information on the control and display facility move depending on the opening angle.

According to one embodiment, the control and display facility is configured to display only some of the items of information depending on the opening angle.

In particular, the control and display facility is configured to display only items of information that are relevant for a certain opening angle in each case. For example, relevant items of information in a closed state of the door are a remaining time in a washing program, a start or pause function or additional selectable options, such as “speed on demand” or “silence on demand”, for example. In a slightly open state or intermediate state of the door, the relevant items of information comprise for example the program selection or the selection of options, the start of the household appliance or a general control, as this is the most ergonomic position for the user. In an open state of the door, the relevant items of information comprise for example top-up reminders such as the prompt to top up water softener salt, top up rinse-aid or add detergent, for example. Furthermore, the relevant items of information may also comprise explanations such as brief instructions regarding the household appliance, for example.

According to a further embodiment, the door can be brought from a closed state via an intermediate state into an open state, wherein the control and display facility is configured to display items of information that are relevant either only for the closed state, only for the intermediate state or only for the open state in each case.

In the closed state, the opening angle is 0°. In the intermediate state, the opening angle is preferably 15 to 25°. In the open state, the opening angle is 90°.

According to a further embodiment, the control and display facility is configured to move the items of information on the control and display facility when the opening angle of the door is changed.

This means for example that when the door is brought from the closed state into the open state, the items of information on the control and display facility shift such that the user can view the items of information well at all times regardless of the opening angle.

According to a further embodiment, the control and display facility is configured to move the items of information in the display counter to a direction of movement of the display.

Because the position of the display also changes when the door is moved, a countervailing movement of the items of information shown in the display results in improved ability for the user to track the items of information, in particular during the movement of the door.

According to a further embodiment, the door has a front side facing away from the receiving region, a rear side facing toward the receiving region, and an upper edge arranged between the front side and rear side, wherein the control and display facility is arranged on or at the front side, on or at the upper edge and/or on or at the rear side.

The control and display facility is preferably arranged on or at the front side, on or at the upper edge and on or at the rear side. Alternatively, the control and display facility may also be arranged only on or at the front side and on or at the upper edge. In this case, the control and display facility is not arranged on or at the rear side.

According to a further embodiment, the control and display facility is guided around the upper edge.

This means that the upper edge is preferably enclosed or surrounded by the control and display facility.

According to a further embodiment, the control and display facility has a first section assigned to the front side of the door, a second section assigned to the upper edge of the door, and/or a third section assigned to the rear side of the door.

The sections may be components that are separate from one another, in the form of touchpads, for example. Alternatively, the sections may be integrally joined to one other such that the control and display facility is a single component that encloses the upper edge. For this purpose, the control and display facility may comprise or be embodied as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), for example.

According to a further embodiment, only one of the sections is activated in each case depending on the opening angle of the door.

In the present context, “activated” means that the respective section displays the items of information or that the respective items of information may be viewed by the user on the active section. For example, in the closed state of the door only the first section is activated, in the intermediate state only the second section is activated, and in the open state of the door only the third section is activated.

According to a further embodiment, the first section, the second section and the third section are arranged such that the control and display facility has a U-shaped geometry.

The U-shaped geometry encloses or surrounds the upper edge of the door.

According to a further embodiment, the first section and the third section are arranged such that the control and display facility has an L-shaped geometry in cross-section.

In this case, the control and display facility is arranged merely on or at the front side and on or at the upper edge of the door. This means that the third section may be omitted in this case.

Further possible implementations of the household appliance also comprise combinations - not explicitly cited - of features or forms of embodiment described above or below in respect of the exemplary embodiments. In this context, the person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or enhancements to the respective basic form of the household appliance.

Further advantageous embodiments and aspects of the household appliance form the subject matter of the subclaims and of the exemplary embodiments of the household appliance that are described below. The household appliance is described in greater detail below using preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a household appliance;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the household appliance according to FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 shows the detail view III according to FIG. 2 ; and

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a control and display facility for the household appliance according to FIG. 1 .

In the figures, elements that are identical or have the same function have been provided with the same reference characters unless otherwise stated.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a household appliance 1. The household appliance 1 is preferably a water-using household appliance. In particular, the household appliance 1 is a household dishwasher. However, the household appliance 1 may also be an oven, a washing machine, a tumble dryer, a freezer, a refrigerator or the like. Subsequently it will be assumed, however, that the household appliance 1 is a household dishwasher.

The household appliance 1 comprises a receiving region 2, which can be closed off by a door 3, in particular in a watertight manner. A sealing facility may be provided for this purpose between the door 3 and the receiving region 2. The receiving region 2 is in particular a dishwasher cavity of the household appliance 1, or may be referred to as such. The receiving region 2 is preferably cuboid in shape. The receiving region 2 may be arranged in a housing of the household appliance 1. The receiving region 2 and the door 3 may form a washing chamber 4 for washing items to be washed.

The door 3 is shown in its open position in FIG. 1 . The door 3 can be closed or opened by pivoting about a pivot axis 5 provided on a lower end of the door 3. A loading opening 6 of the receiving region 2 can be closed or opened with the aid of the door 3. The receiving region 2 has a base 7, a ceiling 8 arranged opposite the base 7, a rear wall 9 arranged opposite the closed door 3, and two side walls 10, 11 arranged opposite one another. The base 7, the ceiling 8, the rear wall 9 and the side walls 10, 11 can be manufactured from a stainless-steel sheet, for example. Alternatively, the base 7 can be manufactured from a plastic material, for example.

The household appliance 1 also has at least one receptacle 12 to 14 for items to be washed. A number of, for instance three, receptacles 12 to 14 for items to be washed can preferably be provided, wherein the receptacle 12 for items to be washed can be a lower receptacle for items to be washed or a bottom basket, the receptacle 13 for items to be washed can be an upper receptacle for items to be washed or an upper basket, and the receptacle 14 for items to be washed can be a cutlery drawer. As additionally shown in FIG. 1 , the receptacles 12 to 14 for items to be washed are arranged one above the other in the receiving region 2. Each receptacle 12 to 14 for items to be washed is optionally able to be shifted into or out of the receiving region 2. In particular, each receptacle 12 to 14 for items to be washed is able to be inserted or pushed into the receiving region 2 in an insertion direction E and extracted or pulled out from the receiving region 2 in an extraction direction A opposite to the insertion direction E.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the household appliance 1. As shown in FIG. 2 , the door 3 can be brought from a closed state Z1 via any number of intermediate states Z2 into a fully open state Z3. In the intermediate state Z2, the door is referred to with the reference character 3'. In the open state Z3, the door is referred to with the reference character 3". When the door 3 is brought from the closed state Z1 into the open state Z3, the door 3 is pivoted by an opening angle α in relation to the receiving region 2. The opening angle α is defined as an angle between the door 3 and a flange that encloses the loading opening 6 of the receiving region 2. In the closed state Z1, the opening angle α is 0°; in the intermediate state Z2 shown in FIG. 2 , the opening angle α is 15 to 25° for example; and in the open state Z3, the opening angle α is 90°.

FIG. 3 shows the detail view III according to FIG. 2 . As shown in FIG. 3 , the door 3 comprises a front side 15 facing away from the receiving region 2 and a rear side 16 facing toward the receiving region 2. Here, the front side 15 and the rear side 16 are arranged parallel to one another and positioned at a distance from one another. An upper edge 17 is provided between the front side 15 and the rear side 16. The upper edge 17 connects the front side 15 to the rear side 16. The upper edge 17 is preferably positioned perpendicular both to the front side 15 and also to the rear side 16.

The household appliance 1 comprises a control and display facility 18 provided in or at the door 3. The household appliance 1 can be controlled with the aid of the control and display facility 18, and an operating state of the household appliance can be displayed, for example. The control and display facility 18 may be or comprise for example a touchscreen. Furthermore, the control and display facility 18 may have any number of other control and display elements. For example, the control and display facility 18 may comprise switches, displays, light-emitting diodes or the like.

The control and display facility 18 comprises a first section 19 assigned to the front side 15, a second section 20 assigned to the upper edge 17, and a third section 21 assigned to the rear side 16. The first section 19 is arranged at or on the front side 15. The second section 20 is arranged at or on the upper edge 17. The third section 21 is arranged at or on the rear side 16. The control and display facility 18 consequently encloses the upper edge 17.

Optionally, one of the sections 19 to 21 may also be omitted. For example, the control and display facility 18 may be embodied without the third section 21 assigned to the rear side 16. In this case, the control and display facility 18 is arranged only at or on the front side 15 and at or on the upper edge 17. Furthermore, a control unit 22 which may be arranged inside the door 3, for example, is assigned to the control and display facility 18. Washing programs of the household appliance 1 may be stored in the control unit 22, for example.

The first section 19 of the control and display facility 18 is suitable for displaying items of information and/or enabling functions that are relevant in the closed state Z1 of the door 3. In the present context, an “item of information” may be understood to mean a symbol, a pictogram or a sequence of letters and/or numbers. An item of information displayed by the control and display facility 18 that is relevant in the closed state Z1 may be a remaining time in a washing program of the household appliance 1, for example. A “function” may be understood to mean for example the selection of various options in a washing program, such as “speed on demand” or “silence on demand”, starting or pausing the washing program or the like, for example. The function can be “enabled” by the item of information, for example a symbol displayed by the control and display facility 18, being chosen or selected by a user with the touch of a finger.

The second section 20 of the control and display facility 18 is suitable for displaying items of information and/or enabling functions that are relevant in the intermediate state Z2. Here, the relevant items of information or functions comprise the selection of the washing program and/or options of the washing program, or starting the washing program. In particular, a general control of the household appliance 1 is possible in the intermediate state Z2, as this is the most ergonomic position for the user. For example, in the intermediate state Z2 the household appliance 1 may be controlled and the washing program selected with the aid of the control and display facility 18.

The third section 21 of the control and display facility 18 is suitable for displaying items of information and/or enabling functions that are relevant in the open state Z3 of the door 3. For example, in the open state Z3 top-up reminders may be displayed with the aid of the control and display facility 18, such as when water softener salt, rinse-aid or detergent are low, for example. Furthermore, explanations such as brief instructions regarding the household appliance 1, for example, may also be displayed with the aid of the control and display facility 18.

FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of the control and display facility 18. This means that, in FIG. 4 , all sections 19 to 21 of the control and display facility 18 are arranged in one plane and are not, as shown in FIG. 3 , positioned in a U shape. As previously mentioned, each section 19 to 21 is assigned at least one item of information x, y, z that is only displayed by the control and display facility 18 when the door 3 is in the corresponding state Z1 to Z3. Thus, for example, the item of information x is only displayed when the door 3 is in the closed state Z1. The item of information y is accordingly only displayed when the door 3 is in the interim state Z2. By contrast, the item of information z is only displayed when the door 3 is in the open state Z3.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4 on the basis of the item of information x using arrows 23, 24, it is also possible for the respective item of information x, y, z to move across the control and display facility 18 depending on the opening angle α. For example, when the door 3 is brought from the closed state Z1 into the intermediate state Z2, the item of information x moves from the first section 19 to the second section 20 of the control and display facility 18. Conversely, when the door 3 is brought from the intermediate state Z2 into the closed state Z1, the item of information x can shift again from the second section 20 back to the first section 19. When the door 3 is brought from the intermediate state Z2 into the open state Z3, the item of information x accordingly shifts from the second section 20 to the third section 21 of the control and display facility 18. Conversely, when the door 3 is brought from the open state Z3 into the intermediate state Z2, the item of information x can shift again from the third section 21 back to the second section 20.

It is therefore possible with the aid of the control and display facility 18 to display to a user only the items of information x, y, z or functionalities that are relevant for the respective opening angle α. Furthermore, printed pictograms or symbols may be dispensed with as these can be digitalized and displayed with the aid of the control and display facility 18. It is thereby possible to display to the user only the respective item of information x, y, z that is relevant at the corresponding moment in time and to link this to the opening angle α of the door 3. Thus, for example, when the door 3 is in the closed state Z1, only the remaining time, the start or pause options, and extra functions such as “speed on demand” and “silence on demand” are displayed on the first section 19 of the control and display facility 18.

When the door 3 is opened, some items of information x, y, z become irrelevant, such as “speed on demand” or “silence on demand”, for example. This is because the aforementioned functions are only switched on if the household appliance 1 is already running. Other items of information x, y, z still remain relevant when the door 3 is opened, such as the start/pause function, for example. Furthermore, there are items of information x, y, z that may be modified. The clock that displays the remaining time on the outside of the door 3 becomes a clock that displays the program duration. This simplifies the selection of the program.

The transformation of items of information x, y, z may be visualized by means of an animation to make it clearer for a user that only the relevant items of information x, y, z are in his/her field of view and the household appliance 1 is responding intelligently to his/her behavior. Information overload may be prevented because only those items of information x, y, z are displayed to the user that are appropriate for the opening angle α of the door 3. This increases the operating convenience.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it can be modified in numerous different ways.

Reference characters used:

-   1 Household appliance -   2 Receiving region -   3 Door -   3' Door -   3" Door -   4 Washing chamber -   5 Pivot axis -   6 Loading opening -   7 Base -   8 Ceiling -   9 Rear wall -   10 Side wall -   11 Side wall -   12 Receptacle for items to be washed -   13 Receptacle for items to be washed -   14 Receptacle for items to be washed -   15 Front side -   16 Rear side -   17 Upper edge -   18 Control and display facility -   19 Section -   20 Section -   21 Section -   22 Control unit -   23 Arrow -   24 Arrow

-   A Extraction direction -   E Insertion direction -   x Item of information -   y Item of information -   z Item of information -   Z1 State -   Z2 State -   Z3 State -   α Opening angle 

1-11. (canceled)
 12. A household appliance, comprising: a receiving region; a door attached to the receiving region; and a control and display facility provided on the door and configured to display an item of information which varies depending on an opening angle of the door.
 13. The household appliance of claim 12, constructed in the form of a household dishwasher.
 14. The household appliance of claim 12, wherein the control and display facility is configured to display only some of the item of information depending on the opening angle.
 15. The household appliance of claim 12, wherein the door is movable from a closed state via an intermediate state into an open state, said control and display facility being configured to display the item of information that is relevant either only for the closed state or only for the intermediate state or only for the open state.
 16. The household appliance of claim 12, wherein the control and display facility is configured to move the item of information on the control and display facility when the opening angle of the door is changed.
 17. The household appliance of claim 16, wherein the control and display facility is configured to move the item of information counter to a direction of movement of a display.
 18. The household appliance of claim 12, wherein the door includes a front side facing away from the receiving region, a rear side facing toward the receiving region, and an upper edge arranged between the front side and rear side, said control and display facility being arranged on or at the front side, on or at the upper edge and/or on or at the rear side.
 19. The household appliance of claim 18, wherein the control and display facility is guided around the upper edge.
 20. The household appliance of claim 18, wherein the control and display facility includes a first section assigned to the front side of the door, a second section assigned to the upper edge of the door, and/or a third section assigned to the rear side of the door.
 21. The household appliance of claim 20, wherein only one of the first, second and third sections is activated depending on the opening angle of the door.
 22. The household appliance of claim 20, wherein the first section, the second section and the third section are arranged such that the control and display facility has a U-shaped geometry in cross-section.
 23. The household appliance of claim 20, wherein the first section and the second section are arranged such that the control and display facility has an L-shaped geometry in cross-section. 